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Diamond Cats Take Series
with Sunday Sweep

Rogers State picked up a series victory on the opening weekend of the 2009 baseball season by sweeping Doane College (Crete, Neb.) in a doubleheader Sunday at the Hillcat Complex.

The Hillcats scored two late runs to post a 6-5 win in the opener Sunday and scored eight first inning runs en route to an 11-4 victory in the series finale. RSU won three in a row after losing the season opener Saturday afternoon.

GAME ONE

The Cats delivered the final blow in a back-in-forth battle to notch a 6-5 victory in Sunday’s opener.

RSU fell behind 2-0 in a bizarre first inning. Doane put two runners on base via catcher’s interference calls and Thomas Frinkman followed with a two RBI single to right field. Zach Hamby picked up an RBI on a ground out in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead in half, but the Tigers answered with two runs on three hits in the third.

The Hillcats retied the game at 4-4 with a three-run third. Catcher Hank Gray started the inning with a walk and courtesy runner Tyler Harold scored on a Brandon Denton single. Coby Wright drew a walk and then Blake Kelley chased both runners home on a single to left field.

However, Doane regained the lead again in the fourth on a single to right by Michael Albert. RSU put runners at second and third with nobody out in the sixth thanks to a hit batter and a throwing error, but nearly squandered away the scoring opportunity when the next two batters failed to advance either runner. Coach Ron Bradley called upon junior Andy Gonell to pinch hit with two outs and the Dominican Republic native delivered in the clutch. Gonell laced the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a two RBI double that proved to be the game winner.

Freshman Josh Phillippi pitched two innings of perfect relief to record his first career victory. Phillippi struck out the side in the sixth and didn’t allow a ball to leave the infield in the seventh. RSU recorded only four hits in the contest as Kelley and Gonell tallied two RBI apiece.

Evan Koetter was charged with the loss after surrendering two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

GAME TWO

RSU put eight runs on the board in the first inning and cruised to an 11-4 decision in the nightcap.

Doane starter Jacob Bartek retired only one batter before being chased from the game in the first. He walked four of the seven batters he faced and was touched for an RBI double by Kelley. The Hillcats reached reliever Mykel Erickson for two more runs in the inning before calling it quits. Joe Manbodh greeted Erickson with a single to left and Kevin Phillips followed with a sacrifice fly. Denton capped off the first inning fireworks with a two-run single to left.

RSU starter Chris Graves tossed three scoreless innings before giving way to the bullpen. The southpaw yielded only one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Sophomore Joe Hardzog was credited with the win after working a scoreless inning of a relief. Hardzog, Arten White, Jason Travis and Jake Taylor pitched one inning apiece. The Tigers scratched across single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and touched Taylor for two runs in the seventh before bowing out.

Zach Hamby and Luis Caraballo tacked on insurance runs in the fourth as Ryan Littlejohn delivered an RBI single. Phillips picked up his second RBI of the day with a fielder’s choice ground out in the sixth. Denton and Littlejohn joined Phillips with two RBI. Caraballo scored three times while Littlejohn had two of the Cats seven hits.

Rogers State (3-1) returns to the diamond next weekend as the Hillcats host Kansas Wesleyan (Salina, Kan.) in a four-game series at the Hillcat Complex. First pitch of Saturday’s doubleheader is slated for noon.

For more information on Hillcat baseball visit www.rsuhillcats.com.

### RSU Info Supplied By Ryan Bradley

Baseball Cats Salvage Opening Day Split

The Rogers State Hillcats opened the 2009 baseball season with a doubleheader split against Doane College (Crete, Neb.) Saturday afternoon at the Hillcat Complex.

More than 300 fans witnessed a very competitive twin bill amid unseasonably warm February temperatures in Claremore, Okla. Doane scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the first game, 4-2. RSU bounced back to claim the nightcap with a 3-2 decision.

GAME ONE

The Hillcats positioned themselves for victory in the opener before being undone by the Tigers three-run rally in the seventh inning.

Doane scored an unearned run in the second inning to claim the early lead on a two-out-hit by Josh Reed. Zach Hamby’s RBI double in the fifth tied the game and Hank Gray drew a bases loaded walk in the sixth to give RSU a 2-1 lead.

However, the Hillcats couldn’t close the door. Tyler Johnson belted a solo homer with one out in the top of the seventh to re-tie the contest. Anthony Dunn followed with a single, setting the stage for Anthony Hincy. With two outs and a full count, Hincy laced a liner into right center that escaped the grasp of a diving Brandon Denton. The ball caromed off Denton’s body and rolled all the way to the fence as Hincy rounded the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

Ryan Littlejohn’s single brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh. Coby Wright followed with a shot to right, but it was nabbed by a diving Dunn to end the threat and seal the win for the Tigers.

Chance Brull was credited with the win for Doane after working one inning of scoreless relief. Both starting pitchers earned no decisions despite strong efforts. Grant Cosby allowed only one unearned run over four innings of work for the Hillcats. He tallied five strikeouts and did not yield a walk. Ryan Otto hurled five innings for Doane, allowing two earned runs with five strikeouts and three walks. Randy Jones took the loss for RSU after giving up three earned runs in three innings of relief.

Hincy went 3-for-3 while picking up the game-winning hit for the Tigers. Rob Rodriguez went 2-for-4 in his first game for the Hillcats.

GAME TWO

The Hillcats scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and slammed the door on the Tigers over the final two innings to take the nightcap, 4-2.

Luis Caraballo led off the fourth inning with a double to left center and scored on a single by Hamby to put RSU in front, 1-0. Michael Albert put Doane on top with a two RBI single up the middle in the top of the fifth.

This time the Hillcats answered the bell with two runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Joe Mandbodh opened the home half of the fifth with a double to right and courtesy runner Tyler Harold scored on a bunt single by Denton. Blake Kelley singled later in the inning and raced home on a two-out hit by Littlejohn.

Littlejohn’s rip to right proved to be the game winner as reliever Cristian Baez retired the last seven Doane hitters in order. Baez worked the final three innings to pick up the win. He allowed two runs while fanning three batters with one walk. Kyle Schachenmeyer surrendered both fifth inning runs and was tagged with the loss for the Tigers. He worked just two-thirds of an inning before being lifted. RSU starter Sam Cornell tossed four spotless innings and was credited with a no decision. The southpaw allowed just one hit with four strikeouts and four walks.

Denton, Littlejohn and Manbodh had two knocks apiece as the Hillcat out-hit the Tigers, 9-3.

Rogers State (1-1) and Doane College return to the diamond Sunday to complete the weekend series. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for noon at the Hillcat Complex.

For more information on Hillcat baseball visit www.rsuhillcats.com.

### RSU Info Supplied By Ryan Bradley